Things to know...

Overview of Ukraine

UKRAINE The country of Ukraine is the largest in Europe - with a thousand year history, much of it dramatic, turbulent and fascinating, stunning cities, incredible mountains and coastline - Ukraine, even with recent events, is a fantastic place to visit, explore, meet the locals and discover the real Ukraine...

Not only does it boast beautiful coastlines to the south, it now has modern hotels via which to enjoy the view! Not only does it have serene mountains to the west, it now has modern health spas that sit among them. And, it still has ancient castles in every direction, along with a cultural heritage that reaches back hundreds of years. Ancient gold-domed churches light up the entire land. These venerable cathedrals havenâ€™t changed much over time, and, more importantly, neither has the countryâ€™s friendly personality. If the citizens of Ukraine did not invent â€œhospitalityâ€, then they certainly perfected it!

Ukrainian Cuisine, while youâ€™re at it, be sure to sample varenyky (similar to ravioli but stuffed with potatoes or cheese), borscht (the national Ukrainian soup dish), and, of course, salo (smoked pig fat). Salo is to Ukrainians what chocolate is to the Swiss!

Client testimonials on Ukraine

"What a wonderful holiday.Â Everything was just perfect. The moment we arrived at Kiev airport Edward was waiting with a large notice with our names on it... Edward,the driver, was marvellous, always smiling and punctual.Â The first day he chauffeured us around Kiev accompanied by one of the best, most charming, knowledgeable and amusing guides, Vlada, we have ever known... On Sunday Paul and I were on our own and spent the day around the City, went up the funicular and visited the street market etc.Â In the evening Edward accompanied us to the train and made sure we were in the right compartment etc.Â The overnight journey was a bit "rattly" but we were met in Lviv at 6am with the driver standing outside the compartment door, so no hunting up and down the platform. Viktoria was in regular contact with the driver and guides and also spoke to us several times to make sure everything was alright. In Lviv our guide Yulia was again fabulous and we saw all of Lviv and some extra places that I had earmarked.Â She too was wonderful... Yesterday morning the driver arrived and took us to the airport after a memorable holiday, thanks to you and your contacts.Â I hope many other "discerning people" will want to visitÂ Ukraine through your company. Slava Ukraine (Glory to Ukraine)" Sue and Paul, October 2016

For travellers who are curious about the world but want a little more security and certainty about their itinerary, an escorted tour might be just what you are looking for. Hand-picked by our team of in-house specialists, we only work with the most reliable and trusted suppliers. Your accommodation and activities are all arranged for you in advance so you know where you are going and when. You’ll travel with a group of likeminded people for the whole trip and a guide will be on hand to share insider knowledge and tips. Our escorted tours attract a mixed range of ages and nationalities providing the perfect opportunity to share exciting travel experiences with old friends – and new.

Welcome To Ukraine Escorted Tour

Can’t find what you are looking for? Our team of in-house travel specialists can create a tailor-made trip to suit any taste or budget. Talk to us about your timeframes and interests and we can recommend an itinerary to match. Our on-the-ground guides in the Ukraine have extensive knowledge of all the best places to eat, drink, stay, relax and explore. Tell us what you’d like to see and do – and we’ll do the rest.

About Baltic Holidays

What our clients say...

"The all over result of what you provided was exactly what we were after and we had a great time with lots of memories to look back on. Thank you for your service and both Maureen and I would be happy to recommend Baltic Holidays to anyone travelling to the Baltic states." Mr & Mrs McDonald, tailor-made Baltic tour, June 2016

"We want to thank you for planning a terrific vacation for us. Everything happened as planned. Pick-ups, hotel reservations and tour guides. The only thing you didn't deliver was sunshine every day!! It was an incredible experience for us. The guide who took us to Ukmerge and Sesuoliai had done lots of research and made it a very meaningful visit for us. We will definitely urge any of our friends who want to visit the Baltics to contact you." R. Aaron, August 2016

"We have just returned from our holidays and must inform you that it was brilliant in all aspects.We have travelled far & wide, & I don't think we have encountered any better drivers or guides. They were simply great! The Hotels too were absolutely fine. All in all, a great trip and thanks to Baltic Holidays for it. Keep it up!" Mr & Mrs Manecksha, Malaysia, private Baltic tour, May 2015

"We returned home yesterday, and would both like to say a huge “Thank you” for everything you did to make it such a wonderful holiday for us. Indeed, all the members of the Baltic Holidays team were so helpful and kind, and we would be very grateful if you could pass on our thanks to them too." Mr & Mrs Maybury, September 2015

"Just a quick word to get back to you after our very enjoyable and successful Baltic Holiday - thank you! We had a really great holiday and enjoyed very much the variety and interest which the 4x capital cities offered us. All our local guides and drivers were extremely personable, spoke superb English, and provided very interesting informative commentaries." Mrs Gross, August 2015

"Just got back from a really excellent holiday. We would like to thank you for organising such a great holiday- the hotels were very good, the guides and drivers were well informed, very polite and friendly and very punctual! We would certainly recommend your company to our family and friends." Mr Gayton, August 2015

"The custom itinerary planned by Baltic Holidays was well-done: informative guides, well-located hotels, and safe, timely transfers. Thank you for your attention to all of the details that made our experience an excellent one. There is nothing we would change. Our trip was perfect in every way." B. McLaughlin, July 2015

"Everything was so well organized. The guides were excellent and always on time. Never rushed us when we were visiting the sights. I think they all went beyond the "call of duty". Please give our best to all who were a part of making this tour one of the best I have ever been on." B. Hair, July 2015

"Finally some time to send you a note thanking you for a wonderful vacation. You were so patient with us as we planned our vacation in Russia, Finland and Estonia. The trip was excellent." T. Dowling, July 2015

"We had a marvelous time, absolutely fantastic and we could not have imagined it any better. The driver/guides were very flexible and patient with us, as we had many questions and needs. Your advice on what to do, together with Jurga's help later on, was invaluable. The itinerary turned out to be a model of how to do three Baltic states in a week. Thank you, I know you invested a lot of time in our itinerary." S. Lin, June 2015

"'Faultless’ just about sums it up. Added to the abundant attractions of Lithuania and its people, it is difficult to see how Baltic Holidays could have arranged things any more smoothly or provided better guides each day. The latter, in particular, were friendly, knowledgeable and always willing to ‘go the extra mile’ to tailor the trip to our particular interests – in this case, the ‘Soviet Legacy Tour’. Both country and company are therefore highly recommended." J.Whitbourn, July 2015

"We found the holiday (Moldova private tour) most interesting and Valery is an excellent guide." M.Taylor, July 2015

"Riga was charming and we really enjoyed walking the streets and discovering little alleys, cloisters and getting to know our bearings." D.Fitzherbert, April 2004

"Just thought we’d let you know that our holiday in Latvia was a great success and everything (taxi, walking tour guide) worked extremely well. The food everywhere was excellent and such good value. Riga was very interesting and Jurmala relaxing – a beautiful sandy beach and dachas everywhere being refurbished or falling down." Mr & Mrs Clunie.

"Tallinn was great, and the apartment beautiful and very well located. There is plenty to do for families - not just the city sights that tend to leave little children a bit cold, but the zoo, the open air museum, trips to the islands and even the chance to visit Helsinki." Mrs Hutton, family holiday.

"Sally, we had a great time and it really was a fascinating holiday. It was so refreshing to visit countries where you have to try local food, because the usual chips-with-everything doesn't exist. We hardly met any English tourists in Estonia - more in Latvia. We feel totally refreshed and as if we had experienced a very different culture. Overall, we hope to return to Latvia and perhaps this time visit Lithuania too." Mrs Hutton, family holiday in Estonia & Latvia.

"Everything was beautifully organised; the hotel was splendid - the staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. Riga itself is a delight, and the walking tour was exactly what we needed - it gave us a taste of the town and made it easy for us to do our own sightseeing afterwards, and the guide was fantastic. The transport arrangements were perfect, and indeed exceeded our expectations! The weather was fantastic, and indeed we spent a couple of hours on the beach on Monday afternoon!" Mr & Mrs Toller, June 2013

"This was our 3rd trip with Baltic Holidays and everything went like clockwork. The flight was on time, the taxi was waiting for us at the airport, and the Albert Hotel was very good with friendly and helpful staff." B.Solloway, Riga city break

"Our memories of the three Baltic countries are happy ones, and we were full of admiration for the people and the cities, and we would most certainly recommend Baltic Holidays to anyone who was considering visiting these countries." Mr Sullivan, July 2015

"We really liked the trip. I thought the itinerary was great. It was a good pace. Everyone's English was good." K.Beebe, June 2015

"In general, the trip was excellent – one of the best organised we have done and we do travel a lot." S.Williams, June 2015

"Such good experiences, memories and appreciation of you and your thoughtful work for us. The trip really was so special in our lifetime travels. All of the schedule was accurate, prompt, hotels just fine and drivers there when expected, even handled like lost sheep by Oleg in Moscow. You just did a wonderful, careful job with excellent choices for us and such appropriate well selected tours and staff and hotels. What a job you did, so we are most grateful to you." M.Litwiller, June 2015

"Thank you very much for all the arrangements and we all had a great trip. We ate a lot, saw a lot and laughed a lot. We enjoyed the trip very much and for sure we will recommend Baltic Holidays to our friends." B.Tse, June 2015

"We'd never had private guides before, but it's an excellent way to do it; not just the wealth of information in respect of cultural and historical things but also chatty insight from a local as to how they live and what they do. Also, in St Petersburg it took away the headache of working out how to use public transport, where to queue, language issues etc. Overall St Petersburg was the highlight, what with all the history and things to do. Your earlier guidance was helpful.... rest assured we are two very satisfied customers." Mr & Mrs Mauger, May 2011

"It was an excellent holiday, all the arrangements worked like clockwork and the guides and drivers were truly excellent - having Valentin waiting for us on the platform at the door to the carriage when we arrived at St Petersburg at 11p.m. was a definitive moment."Mr & Mrs Wilki, September 2010

"We had a great time. Having local guides for several hours for just the two of us meant these were not just group type city tour guides. We learned a lot by asking them questions outside their direct briefs" Roger, May 2012

We have just returned from yet another trip brilliantly organised by Baltic Holidays. This time we went to Vilnius. The Hotel was superb, and in an excellent location, the private guides were very good with understandable English, and everything was meticulously planned and on time. Absolutely marvellous. We had a truly wonderful time, all thanks to Philip and his team, and would not hesitate to recommend Baltic Holidays to anyone, indeed we already have, to several friends and family! Judy & Stanley Lester, February 2016

Can't thank Baltic Holidays enough. We have just had one of our best family holidays. Skiing in Jasna. It was absolutely perfect. Exactly what we wanted and needed. Brilliant! Lucy Pitman, February 2016

"This holiday, organised by Baltic Holidays was as near to perfect a holiday as we have ever had. We were picked up in Gdansk by a superb driver for the long drive to Vilnius, and from that time we were treated to an education about these three Baltic states that has been invaluable. Each of the drivers and guides was excellent, enriching our knowledge of the complex political and social history of the area. We would wholeheartedly recommend Baltic Holidays to those wanting a holiday with the indulgence of personal drivers and guides, along with very comfortable hotels which were located within or close to the historic town centres. Thank you!" Mr & Mrs Bardsley, June 2017

"We had a great holiday and it all went like clockwork. The guides were terrific and I coped with the walking tours although cobblestones are not my favourite, but apart from that we loved the medieval towns. It was an added bonus that places were not over run with tourists.I shall certainly recommend Baltic Holidays." K.Irving, May 2017

"Splendidly organised trip in every respect – hotels, transfers, guides etc. Very much enjoyed and appreciated. Thank you for all your good work. Will most certainly recommend to family and friends." Mr George, June 2017

"Thank you Baltic Holidays for arranging our fascinating private trip to Estonia. Our driver/guide was so knowledgeable and kept us entertained with his stories. The Estonians were so pleasant and welcoming, all speaking perfect English. We ate out in some quirky cafes and restaurants where service was always with a smile and food attractively presented. We look forward to our next trip with the Baltic Holidays team." Mr & Mrs Chambers, June 2017

"Ačiū
Paldies
Tänan

For the excellent tour which you planned for us in the Baltic states. We really feel that we have been able to understand this part of the world so much more through your excellent itinerary and guides as well as being able to relax and enjoy being looked after. The organisation was extremely well planned and we really enjoyed visiting places en route as well as the cities. The guides and drivers in particular were especially good: friendly, very friendly, knowledgeable and willing to pass on their experiences, please pass on our thanks to all of them. We will recommend you to our friends." Mr & Mrs Powell, June 2017

“We think your guides are a real strength of the company. They do not just repeat a script but share their knowledge and interests.” Mr & Mrs Marriott, February 2017

“We are very pleased to be able to provide our comments for our tailor-made trip with Baltic Holidays. We'd like to congratulate you and your team for organising and providing such a wonderful tour for us. Everything you offered was perfectly arranged and we couldn't have wanted for more. We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the itinerary - transfers, accommodation, sightseeing, friendliness and promptness of our guides and drivers in each country - they all arrived at precisely the time that they said they would. They also certainly gave us a great insight into the history and culture of the three Baltic States.“ Mr & Mrs Southall, tailor-made Baltic tour, September 2016

"My wife and I have just returned from a really enjoyable trip through Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia & Finland and thought we would provide you with some feedback. Without exception, all of the guides and driver/guides were excellent, professional and friendly and more than happy to impart information regarding their respective country’s rich and turbulent histories. This in turn provided us with a greater understanding of the Baltic States in general and a good foundation for the subsequent guided and individual excursions we conducted. In addition, all of the private transfers went like clockwork and the vehicles provided were comfortable and well maintained.

What really surprised us was the high quality of food we ate throughout the holiday and we did not have a bad meal in any of the restaurants we selected.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would have no hesitation in booking another holiday with Baltic Holidays, and would be happy to recommend your company to friends and family. Mr & Mrs Bird, May 2017

"It was a different holiday to our Mediterranean ones and made an excellent alternative. Really we would recommend you to anyone who are looking for a change. Thanks for all the excellent arrangements you made for us." Mr & Mrs Critchley, June 2017